Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage
As a homeschooling parent, I loved bringing new information and ideas into our home in ways that made connections with holidays and cultural celebrations. Awareness months are a great source of inspiration, providing ways to learn about our own heritage and that of others.
In the United States, the month of May has been designated as AANHPI Heritage Month, to recognize and honor the contributions of Americans from the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) communities. It’s important for all Americans to understand that this isn’t just one culture or group! Approximately 25 million living Americans are members of at least one of the “40 Asian and 34 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander origin groups” identified in the 2020 US Census (see the AANHPI Community Counts Dashboard website). This provides so many opportunities for us to learn about different cultures, languages, and traditions, as well as contributions made by AANHPI people in history and today. Learning about the wide range of cultures and experiences also helps us go beyond common stereotypes and helps us see AANHPI Americans as individuals.
The choice of May itself was made to honor two important milestones: “the arrival of the nation’s first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and Chinese workers’ pivotal role in building the transcontinental railroad (completed May 10, 1869).” Federal celebrations of Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week began in 1978; in 1992, the month of May was permanently designated as Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and in 2021, a presidential proclamation expanded this to include Native Hawaiians. The Census Bureau shares these and many other facts on its page Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month: May 2024.
The sites and links below provide many sources of information from numerical data as above to videos, first-person stories, primary source documents, and hands-on activities. You can use them for inspiration for unit studies, full-year courses, or an afternoon activity. Perhaps you’ll choose to try new foods or recipes, learn the history of papermaking and try it out yourself, listen to music from another culture, read a book, or learn some words in another language. I invite you to browse these resources and see what would best appeal to your family or homeschool group.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Resource Guide
The Asian American Foundation AANHPI Toolkit
Explore meaningful ways to honor Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) cultures through stories, traditions, history, and community connections. This is a great opportunity for homeschool families to introduce diverse perspectives, cultural appreciation, and global understanding through intentional learning.
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month
Explore trusted resources from national institutions honoring Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) contributions to U.S. history and culture. These materials highlight stories, achievements, and perspectives that enrich learning. A meaningful addition to homeschool history, cultural studies, and heritage month lessons.
This site is a collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and hosted by the Library of Congress.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by the History Channel
AANHPI Heritage Month (May 1–31) celebrates the history, culture, and contributions of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in the United States. It’s a meaningful opportunity for homeschool families to explore diverse perspectives, cultural traditions, and impactful stories through intentional learning.
Asian American and Pacific Islander Materials: A Resource Guide from the Library of Congress
This research guide highlights resources on Asian American and Pacific Islander history, offering strategies and materials from the Library of Congress and online collections. With over 21 million AANHPI individuals in the U.S., it’s a valuable tool for homeschool students exploring history, culture, and primary sources.
Understanding Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - an interview with Texas A&M professor Vanita Reddy
Learn why Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is recognized in May, tracing history back to early Chinese immigrants in the 1850s. This resource explores the importance of awareness, identity, and cultural understanding, with insights on race and global perspectives. A valuable addition to homeschool history and cultural studies.
What it means to be Asian in America
This resource from the Pew Research Center shares real voices and lived experiences of Asian Americans, exploring identity, culture, and the challenges of navigating expectations in the U.S. With roots spanning over 20 countries, these perspectives offer meaningful insight for homeschooling families studying culture, identity, and modern history.
Free Learning Resources to Celebrate Asian American Heritage from Common Sense Media
Explore the history and achievements of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities through engaging activities, videos, and learning resources. Perfect for homeschool families, this content helps bring AANHPI Heritage Month to life while building cultural awareness and historical understanding.
18 Student Activities for AAPI Heritage Month
Free AANHPI Heritage Month activities created by teachers and designed to celebrate the contributions of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the United States. This resource includes ideas, inspiration, and ready-to-use materials—perfect for homeschool families looking to bring meaningful cultural learning into their lessons.
Asian Americans - a PBS Film
This five-hour documentary series explores Asian American history through powerful personal stories, offering a fresh perspective on identity, diversity, and the evolving American experience. A meaningful resource for homeschool families studying modern U.S. history, culture, and diverse perspectives.
11 Resources for Teaching About AAPI Experiences
Explore curated resources from leading cultural institutions that highlight the historical and modern experiences of AANHPI communities. This collection from Facing History & Ourselves helps expand learning through diverse perspectives, perfect for homeschool families building meaningful history and cultural studies.
History of AAPIs in the US and Diversity within AAPI Communities
This webinar explores the history of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the U.S. and the diversity within them. Featuring expert voices in education and public policy, it offers valuable insight into identity, culture, and representation, perfect for homeschool students studying modern history and cultural perspectives.
Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage
Discover books, activities, and resources celebrating AANHPI heritage all year long! These curated booklists highlight the diversity, history, and resilience of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities—perfect for homeschool families building meaningful reading lists and cultural studies.
Teaching Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage
This webinar explores the origins and meaning of AANHPI identity, including the impact of the term and the “model minority” myth. It also provides tools to help teach AANHPI history with clarity and context, perfect for homeschool families introducing cultural awareness and modern history.
Self Evident: Asian America's Stories
The Self Evident podcast shares a wide range of Asian American perspectives. For example, the five-part story series Before Me follows one woman’s journey from Cambodia to America, sharing a powerful mother-daughter conversation about identity, memory, and belonging. A meaningful resource for homeschool families exploring immigration, storytelling, and Asian American perspectives.
"We Are Inspiring" by Angel Trazo
The book “We Are Inspiring” shares the stories of 32 Asian American women from diverse backgrounds, careers, and identities. Designed for ages 10+, it highlights voices across cultures, including LGBTQ+, immigrant, and mixed-race experiences. A meaningful addition to homeschool reading, history, and cultural studies.
Activities and resources to celebrate Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month
May is AANHPI Heritage Month, a time to honor the contributions and diverse cultures of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities. The Afterschool Alliance put together this list of simple ideas and resources to celebrate through learning, activities, and reflection—perfect for homeschool families building meaningful cultural studies.
15 books on Asian American and Pacific Islander Experiences
15 recommended books on Asian American and Pacific Islander experiences that explore identity, history, and culture through powerful storytelling. Curated to support deeper understanding, these titles are a valuable addition to homeschool reading lists and cultural studies.
Consortium Library - Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month - Federal Asian Pacific American Council
This librarian-created guide introduces trusted resources for celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Explore history, culture, and stories through curated materials—perfect for homeschool families building meaningful, well-rounded cultural studies.
Federal Asian Pacific American Council
The 2026 AANHPI Heritage Month theme, “Power in Unity: Strengthening Communities Together,” highlights the importance of connection, culture, and community. This resource includes events and materials to help families explore AANHPI history and contributions, perfect for homeschool cultural and history studies.
Final words
There are many ways to use resources such as these, and to draw inspiration from an awareness month. Some families make a month-long calendar to do something each day or week to celebrate the topic of the month. Others might create a unit study or year-long course using resources after they see the wide variety of opportunities showcased by an awareness month. Whichever you choose, your homeschooling experience can be enriched through celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month!
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Michele Evard is a veteran homeschooling parent and an independent educational consultant who specializes in working with homeschoolers. You can find more homeschooling ideas, get a free chapter of her book, and learn about her services at Evard Educational Consulting (www.evardconsulting.com).
